Flash trigger options for Nikon

F

FrattonFreak

Suspended / Banned
Messages
502
Name
Warren
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,

I have a D700 which for portraits I've used the in camera flash as master with tiny softbox fitted over in camere flash to also fire a slave SB600 firing into an umbrella on the side.

I have now aquired a secondhand sb900 which I like to fit to a stand with say 54" softbox and fire from the front and therefore no longer use the in camera flash as master.

My first thought was pocket wizard set but this would set me back around £400 which is far too much

Could someone help me with wireless remote flash triggers please based on my requirements and of course personal experience as personal use always give the best experience to pass on.

I apologise If I've no looked hard enough for previous threads but I hsve looked
 
Most people just use basic manual-only radio triggers, £30-50 a set - Yongnuo RF-602 has a great rep. I have a stack of those, though prefer my Phottix Strato II for about £100 (faster x-sync, auto-TTL pass-through on-camera, better controls).

If you want to retain full auto-TTL, then you'll need to spend more, though it's of limited benefit in the situation you've outlined and most people would prefer manual anyway.
 
Thanks for your reply Richard.

Am I right in saying with Phottix Strato II I could use one transmitter on the camera hot shoe and then use 2 transmitters with Nikon flash units on top in umbrella / softbox etc and still get TTL which (excuse my noobness) will give me sufficient lighting control and not be fully manual. I'm not full time "home studio" and so may want to quickly set-up out door or at different location and likely initially rely on ttl in the first instance

I think WEX do a set of 2 receivers and 1 transmitter for about £130 which not cheap is considerably cheaper than pocket wizards.

I'd rather not spend loads but as with most photography its better and cheaper buying good in the first instance. Pocket wizards are desireable but out of my class in terms of skill no doubt and cost
 
FrattonFreak said:
Thanks for your reply Richard.

Am I right in saying with Phottix Strato II I could use one transmitter on the camera hot shoe and then use 2 transmitters with Nikon flash units on top in umbrella / softbox etc and still get TTL which (excuse my noobness) will give me sufficient lighting control and not be fully manual. I'm not full time "home studio" and so may want to quickly set-up out door or at different location and likely initially rely on ttl in the first instance

I think WEX do a set of 2 receivers and 1 transmitter for about £130 which not cheap is considerably cheaper than pocket wizards.

I'd rather not spend loads but as with most photography its better and cheaper buying good in the first instance. Pocket wizards are desireable but out of my class in terms of skill no doubt and cost
Click to expand...

No, Stratos are not auto-TTL triggers, but they do have a TTL pass-though on the transmitter so an on-camera gun can be auto-TTL (or if it's on a dedicated cord) but the remote flash/es are strictly manual.

You may get some comfort from auto-TTL support, but the main benefit is speed of operation, ie first shot should be right when you need that, but if you have to set up a stand etc anyway, then adjusting the power of the gun manually only takes a few seconds (couple of test shots and you're there) and then there's the added benefit that the exposure will not change.

Auto-TTL can be unpredictable in studio situations when for example you might have quite a lot of bright or dark background. That will fool it, so you'll need to apply compensation, and additionally in a situation like that if the subject moves to one side, or changes their top, or you bring in a second subject, the reduction in background and subject brightness that the exposure system sees might throw it and you'll get inconsistent results.

Plus you're never quite sure what the gun is doing so it's not good for learning, or sometimes knowing what to change if things don't go to plan. You know where you are with manual.
 
Thanks Richard for confirming that and I see the reasoning and skill progression through manual with knowledge learnt with light adjustments as I gio along

I definately want radio and not wire controlled units as there is more flexibility if outsdie.

I would want to pay for something that is going to last and isnt a cheap and cheerful as its often a false economy else buy something cheap then out grow it
but at the same time I dont want to throw money away..I'm not rich :D

On this basis do you think the Phottix Strato II is what I'm after (hard question I know).

Thanks
 
FrattonFreak said:
Thanks Richard for confirming that and I see the reasoning and skill progression through manual with knowledge learnt with light adjustments as I gio along

I definately want radio and not wire controlled units as there is more flexibility if outsdie.

I would want to pay for something that is going to last and isnt a cheap and cheerful as its often a false economy else buy something cheap then out grow it
but at the same time I dont want to throw money away..I'm not rich :D

On this basis do you think the Phottix Strato II is what I'm after (hard question I know).

Thanks
Click to expand...

The bigger question is whether you want auto-TTL or not.

If not, then the Stratos are probably the best triggers out there, but there are others cheaper that will do the basic job just fine.
 
Full auto ttl it appears comes at a cost. If thats Pocket wizard / Poppers prices then I can forget that as its far too expensive

Auto TTL support with radio triggers would help where a set-up doesn't allow my Nikon flashes to communicate via the IR comms method, either distance or line of sight issues

They key I think for me is to get something reliable that offers flexibility rather than buy cheapest, find limitations and then have to get somthing else later.

I've been looking at Phil Steele's site which has some intresting info and he does also rate that Stratos
 
Just a thought, doesn't it have master commander system, Nikons flash control system for TTL?
 
Yeah Nikon has a master control which is fine if using the in camera flash or flash on the hot shoe as the master using the Nikon CLS

What I was wanting to do initially is to have 1 flash on side into an umbrella and one at front shooting through a a biggish softbox. With this set-up I'm think I wont need the in camera flash as I'm going to get 2 main light sources from the front (softbox and in camera flash) so this was what made me think radio triggers to set the other pair off ?
 
FrattonFreak said:
Yeah Nikon has a master control which is fine if using the in camera flash or flash on the hot shoe as the master using the Nikon CLS

What I was wanting to do initially is to have 1 flash on side into an umbrella and one at front shooting through a a biggish softbox. With this set-up I'm think I wont need the in camera flash as I'm going to get 2 main light sources from the front (softbox and in camera flash) so this was what made me think radio triggers to set the other pair off ?
Click to expand...

Have a look at the SU-800 commander. It's basically a bit like an SB-800 in master mode without the actual flash head. Attaches to the camera hotshoe and can control several flashes in M or TTL modes and power adjustments are made via its rear LCD so there's no need to touch the flashes other than to turn them on and off, and to change the batteries. I picked up a used one for about £160 and it's really good.

Limitations of CLS is it's based around IR so works great indoors where there are walls to bounce signals off, but the range is limited outdoors. I've used it with flashguns inside an Apollo 28" soft box and the signal isn't interrupted at all. Extreme range is a no-no with CLS - you're looking at 20 metres maximum really, and that's on a good day.

For non-TTL shooting I use the original Strato but the new ones are supposed to be even better built and have the group selector on the TX unit. Very reliable and good range... I've used my Mk1 units at ranges of up to 70 metres without misfires.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys, its really helpful

The su800 is a great idea but rather expensive and as specialman says has limted outdoor range.

The danger is that an Su800 and Stratto set will end up not too far shoot of a pocket wizard set. I'll check out 2nd hand prices of the Su800, stratto looks great for outside

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh decisions and money :D
 
FrattonFreak said:
Thanks for the feedback guys, its really helpful

The su800 is a great idea but rather expensive and as specialman says has limted outdoor range.

The danger is that an Su800 and Stratto set will end up not too far shoot of a pocket wizard set. I'll check out 2nd hand prices of the Su800, stratto looks great for outside

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh decisions and money :D
Click to expand...

You could always go with the Mk1 Strato, which Calumet sells under its own brand - £55 for a TX + RX kit and extra RX units cost £30.

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/b...g-accessories/light-triggers/_/brands/calumet

As for an SU-800, MPB has one in for £199. That seems to be the normal price - I got mine unboxed although in mint condition, hence the lower price.

TBH, if TTL is more of a luxury than an essential, I'd go with the Strato units and just learn to live with eating flash outputs manually. You soon get used to it :)
 
Last edited:
Thankyou for the link and advice Specialman. Perhaps a cheap SU800 and Calumet Strato Mk1 would cover the bases

For you more experienced guys is TTL remote flash a luxury or is it something I'm going to want in the future,
 
Ahhh has anybody used remote TTL cords (for me Nikon SC-28 TTL Remote Cord at about £49)

I'm wondering if this will give me enough room with camera with flash on a stand without pulling it over for indoor TTL work

This plus the Mk1 Strato could give me TTL and manual options for around £130 with the strato allowing good outdoor opportunities
 
I think TTL remote flash is something you want more than you'll need when you start to use it.

When using flash, what you want to control is the amount (and quality) of light falling on the subject, what TTL gives you is an automatic setting based on the amount of flash being reflected from your subject. So if you're shooting with your flash in Manual, you have a blonde in a dark outfit against a light background, your exposure should remain constant whether you shoot Head & Shoulders or 3/4. But TTL flash metering will change the flash power, which you will have to compensate for or fix in post.

Under studio conditions it's easier to work with known power outputs which we can change by moving the lights, turning their power up, changing the aperture or changing the ISO. Where the TTL radio set makes sense to me is to remote control the flash power rather than the TTL metering, that and my Canon with Pocketwizards allow HSS outdoors to work with the sun.
 
FrattonFreak said:
Thankyou for the link and advice Specialman. Perhaps a cheap SU800 and Calumet Strato Mk1 would cover the bases

For you more experienced guys is TTL remote flash a luxury or is it something I'm going to want in the future,
Click to expand...

It depends what you're shooting.

As I said above, the big advantage of auto-TTL is speed of getting the right exposure, or at least close to it. Sometimes this is invaluable

For example, if you're shooting social stuff, a wedding reception or party, you don't have time to mess about. Exposure has got to be right first time, and bearing in mind how extremely sensitive flash exposure is to distance (double the distance, one quarter the light - two stops down) it will vary a lot as you move back and forth to adjust framing. Or when shooting active kids maybe, or anything else that moves quickly.

Other things to consider are high speed sync and second curtain sync.
 
This might not be relevant but I might be selling my strato ii tx and rx set for nikon since I've just acquired the pws.
 
FrattonFreak said:
PM me perhaps if its in vgood condition etc
Click to expand...

Please check the rules regarding trading via PM
and out-side of classifieds.
Both are a :nono:
Thanks
 
I'm aware of the rules mod. I'm just giving him a heads up. I will post it in the classifieds when I get the chance.
 
t43er said:
I'm aware of the rules mod. I'm just giving him a heads up. I will post it in the classifieds when I get the chance.
Click to expand...

I quoted Warren not you for a reason ;)
 
If all you want to do is trigger the lights then lots of things will work.

I have a set of old school Pocket Wizards which cost a lot. But to trip an SB900 I'm more likely to use a Yonungnuo 602 because they are small and cheap and work fine.

I put up another thread about more features (specifically remote power setting but I think all that do this also allow TTL etc) and some people helpfully listed triggers that will do this.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=431117
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top